Re: Re: meds (is my dosage too low?)

[Guest guest]

You are definitely on the right track.  That is what the medications are good

for, in preventing the frequency and severity of flares.  As for joint damage,

one rhuemy I had said he didn't think I'd ever get damage with my type of

arthritis (looking back, I should've asked what he meant by that) all my xrays

have always turn up normal.  I certainly noticed fewer flares and less

stiffness / pain when I am on medications than when I am off of them.  I

currently don't take any medications at all, except Advil or other pain killer

when it is especially bad, but keep in mind, that is my own personal choice, and

I admit I probably should be taking something for the stiffness I constantly

feel.  It's just when I weigh the risks of the possible side effects,

especially from taking medications long-term, against that of my symptoms, which

are typically relatively minor and short-term, I sometimes wonder if it's worth

it.  I'm sure a lot of people here can't

relate to that; they really do need to take medication in order to get up out

of bed and live out their lives.  And if you find that the medications are

really helping your body, then by all means, keep taking them!  Sometimes

medications are trial and error and you have to take them awhile before you

discover if it's giving you any significant improvement. 

From: MK <ontopuhduhvoild@...>

Subject: Re: meds (is my dosage too low?)

Date: Wednesday, July 20, 2011, 1:20 PM

 

The reason I take the medicine is to prevent the flares and any joint

damage. The bad flare I had made it hard to do anything -- button my shirt,

bend, you name it.

I hope I am on the right track; I really wish it were easier to get a second

opinion (from a doctor). That's what I plan to do next year.

-- Kay

[Guest guest]

Believe it or not, I know what you are going through.   You're not alone! 

Although my symptoms may be relatively minor, I do have days in which it really

gets me down, especially when I make plans to do something, go somewhere, get

something done around the house, and I am just too stiff, too tired, to do it. 

And I worry sometimes if this may be the day my symptoms suddenly take a turn

for the worse.  I also have days in  which all I feel like doing is curling up

in a ball and feeling sorry for myself and I don't even know where the feelings

came from.  But these moods tend to disappear after a few days and I'm fine. 

I read somewhere that depression tends to go hand in hand with autoimmune

disease in general, and some scientists believe there may be a physical link. 

It's all theory of course, so I don't know if they've actually proven it.  But

I think it might be true.  Anytime you need someone to talk to, you know that

we are all here for

you!

From: phuzaxeman777 <phuzaxeman777@...>

Subject: Re: meds (is my dosage too low?)

Date: Wednesday, July 20, 2011, 6:24 AM

 

thank you for sharing. your symptoms and idea about minimal meds sound

like me. i too have allergies but i've never been allergic to any meds

(knocking on hard wood). My symptoms are mild-moderate for the most part and

have stiffness mostly, occasional swelling and pain, but nothing too painful as

well.

even mild to moderate pain, it's bothering me mentally. i don't know how others

are, but deep down i am having a problem with this condition in my mind. i'm

seeking a lot of counseling and have a wonderful family with lots of friends but

there's a mental part of this that i'm fighting as well. i have a history of

depression and anxiety. don't get me wrong, i do all the positive stuff like

meditation, exercise, diet, supplements, reading books, etc, and it works 85% of

the time. but the other 15% i am consumed with thoughts of the future and what

if's (all which i shouldn't worry).

i'm already on meds for hypertension, and i really don't want to add anymore.

but sometimes the thought of an anti deprresant to help me sounds good. but

even an anti depressant doesn't take away the real pain i may be growing

through. i'm sorry to vent, but the risg people are the only group of people

that can truly understand.

btw, what meds are you on?

>

> From: phuzaxeman777 <phuzaxeman777@...>

> Subject: meds (is my dosage too low?)

>

> Date: Monday, July 18, 2011, 2:47 AM

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>  

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> my current flare (my 3rd) started in the end of feb. i've been managing

with voltaren nsaid 75 mg 2x a day.

>

>

>

> i feel better than march and april, i can power walk over a mile (even do

slight jogging), but i'm still stiff and sore. when things get worse i take

tylenol arthritis (1 or 2 caps a day).

>

>

>

> my blood work is all normal. i have times where i feel back to normal

(85-95)and times when i don't feel good at all. i'm seeing a pscyhologist and

getting p.t. (i'm blessed my wife is one).

>

>

>

> i feel that this flare is starting to subside (it has twice already usually

lasting 4-6 mos).

>

>

>

> my dr suggested i may want to try sulfasalizine (or another dmard) with my

voltaren (i said no i'm getting better).

>

>

>

> in all honesty i'm scared to adding another drug (i have hypertension too and

take meds for that too) and i've done ok managing just with the nsaid. i've

bumped up my workouts but have been more achey and sore lately.

>

>

>

> i completely understand that there are people much worse than my case and are

on heavy drugs (biologics+dmards+nsaid etc). but in my case i've been debating

adding sulfasalizine or an anti-depressent.

>

>

>

> on another site (not a ReA site), people have mentioned that i should add the

dmard or steroids because my dosage could be low. any suggesstions?

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

At the moment I am still on 50mcg of Fentanyl for pain, down from 100mcg,

and three psychoactive pills for pain and manage the breakthrough with Advil

or Tylenol and it keeps me on an even keel.

The psycho active drugs are Risperidone, 1 mg and Mirtazapine 30 mg and 60

mgm of Prozac. I was off the prozac for a period of time but had to up the

dosage to 60 mgm when depression almost got the best of me.

That combination works well and now since my Divorce papers were served on

me, I have noticed my eating and sleeping patterns have improved greatly.

Not that I recommend divorce as part of the treatment.

Fr. Dave

[Guest guest]

Yes, autoimmune diseases and depression go hand in hand. That is what I

have been told by all my doctors and I have had a few over the past couple

of years while I was suffering from Cryptogenic Organizing Pneumonia. I

contacted COP/BOOP (aka Bronchiolitis Obliterans Organizing Pneumonia from

mold that invaded the house we owned in Irvine a small community 30 km from

our city. Not nice stuff, which led to 7 hospital admissions in the space

of one year.

Since that I have suffered several ministrokes which my doctors blame on the

COP/BOOP and have had to be hospitalized twice more since the last one

causing a two week stay in hospital.

Once your immune system is compromized it leaves you open to many other

diseases.

I was tossed out of the home while I was in the ICU with the pneumonia and

now have been served with divorce papers by my soon to be ex wife. Like I

said in my last email, my appetite and sleep patterns improved once they

were served.

Dave

-- Re: Re: meds (is my dosage too low?)

I read somewhere that depression tends to go hand in hand with autoimmune

disease in general, and some scientists believe there may be a physical link

It's all theory of course, so I don't know if they've actually proven it.

But I think it might be true. Anytime you need someone to talk to, you know

that we are all here for

you!

[Guest guest]

,

Prozac and Methadone (pain) have worked for me for last 10 years. Harv

Re: Re: meds (is my dosage too low?)

I read somewhere that depression tends to go hand in hand with autoimmune

disease in general, and some scientists believe there may be a physical link

It's all theory of course, so I don't know if they've actually proven it.

But I think it might be true. Anytime you need someone to talk to, you know

that we are all here for

you!